For some time we have heard nothing of Eustachius Roche, _quondam_
tacksman-general of the Scottish mines. From this circumstance, and the
difficulties he seemed to be labouring under the last time we heard
of him, it is little to be doubted that he had found his adventure
unprofitable and hopeless, and given it up. Now another comes forward,
one really notice-worthy, since he prospered to some extent in his
undertaking, and laid the foundation of a property and a work which
still exist. This was Thomas Foulis, goldsmith in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh goldsmiths of that day, though only occupying a few
small obscure shops stuck between the buttresses of St Giles’s Church,
comprehended in their number two or three persons of such considerable
wealth, as to verge upon a historic importance. Such, for example, was
George Heriot, who in 1597 became goldsmith and jeweller to the king,
and in time accumulated the fortune which enabled his executors to
erect the magnificent hospital bearing his name. Another of the number
was Thomas Foulis, who, when in spring 1593 the king had to march an
army against the Papist lords in the north, supplied a great part of
the funds required for the purpose. What the Bank of England has often
in modern times been to the British government, Thomas Foulis, the
Edinburgh goldsmith, was in those days to King James--a ready resource
when money was urgently required for state purposes. On the 10th of
September 1594, the royal debt to Thomas was no less than £14,598;
and as a security so far for this sum, the king consigned to him ‘twa
drinking pieces of gold, weighing in the haill fifteen pund and five
unce,’ which the consignee was to be at liberty to coin into ‘five-pund
pieces,’ if the debt should not be otherwise paid before the 1st of
November next, ‘the superplus, gif oney beis,’ to be forthcoming for
his majesty’s use. The value of the gold of these drinking-cups at the
present day would be about £950, which shews that the debt in question
was expressed in Scottish money. It may be remarked, that on the same
day the king consigned another gold drinking-cup, weighing twelve
pounds five ounces, in favour of John Arnott, burgess of Edinburgh,
who had lent him £6000. It further appears that Thomas Foulis, very
soon after, lent the king £12,000 more ‘for outredding of sundry his
hieness’ affairs.’
[Sidenote: 1593-4.]
In consideration of the loans he had had from Thomas Foulis, the
king granted him (January 21, 1593-4), a lease of the gold, silver,
and lead mines of Crawford Muir and Glengoner for twenty-one years.
The Edinburgh tradesman probably had the sagacity to see, in a
little time, that there was not, in those districts, a sufficiency
of the more precious metals to pay the expense of collecting. We
find, however, that in 1597 he was working the really valuable lead
deposit of Lanarkshire, as there are acts of council in that year
for the protection of his lead-carriers against ‘broken men of the
borders.’[198]
We shall meet Thomas again. Meanwhile, it may be observed that his
lead-mines in time passed through his granddaughter into the possession
of (her husband) James Hope of Hopetoun, sixth son of the great lawyer,
Sir Thomas, and the founder of the noble house of Hopetoun. It has long
been one of the best estates in Scotland; and it is certainly curious
to trace its origin to the hypocritical military expedition against the
Catholic lords, into which King James was forced by his ultra-zealous
Presbyterian subjects, when he would have much rather been ‘drinking
and driving ower in the auld maner’ at home.
Whatever became of the gold-diggings in Foulis’s hands, we find that,
before the expiration of the term of his lease, they were actively
worked by another person. An Englishman named Bulmer, with the
licence and favour of Queen Elizabeth, and a patent from the king of
Scots, set seriously to work in five different moors--namely, Mannoch
Muir and Robbart Muir in Nithsdale, the Friar Muir on Glengoner
Water, and Crawford Muir in Clydesdale, and Glengaber Water in
Henderland, Peeblesshire. ‘Upon Glengoner Water he builded a very
fair country-house to dwell in; he furnished it fitting for himself
and his family; he kept therein great hospitality; he purchased lands
and grounds round about it; he kept thereupon many cattle, as horses,
kine, sheep, &c. And he brought home a water-course for the washing of
and cleansing of gold; by help thereof he got much straggling gold on
the skirts of the hills and in the valleys, but none in solid places;
which maintained himself then in great pomp, and thereby he kept open
house for all comers and goers; as is reported, he feasted all sorts of
people that thither came.’ A verse upon the lintel of the door of the
house in Glengoner has been preserved:
Sir Bevis Bulmer built this bour,
Who levellèd both hill and moor;
Who got great riches and great honour
In Short-cleuch Water and Glengoner.[199]
[Sidenote: 1593-4.]
Bulmer also set regular apparatus at work in Short-cleugh Water and
Long-cleugh Braes, in Crawford Muir, and often found considerable
quantities of the ore: in the latter place, his people found one piece
of six ounces’ weight within two feet of the mosses. He also found a
considerable quantity in Glengaber, but erected no apparatus there.
After a persevering effort, he became embarrassed, in consequence, it
is affirmed, of prodigal housekeeping, and retired from the adventure
no richer than he commenced it.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: FEB. 19.]
‘... between twa and three hours in the morning, the queen was
delivered of ane young prince, within the Castle of Stirling, in his
majesty’s chalmer there; whilk was a great comfort to the haill people,
moving them till great triumph, wantonness, and play, for banefires
were set out, and dancing and playing usit, in all parts, as gif the
people had been daft for mirth.’--_Moy._
The king had scarcely seen his wife out of the perils of childbirth,
when he was obliged to come to Edinburgh to take measures against the
Earl of Bothwell, who was now breaking out into open rebellion. Fearing
to live in Holyroodhouse, which had already been twice broken into
by the turbulent lord, he took up his quarters in ‘Robert Gourlay’s
lodging’ within the city.
[Sidenote: MAR. 13.]
‘... being Sunday, his majesty came to Mr Robert Bruce’s preaching,
[who] said to his majesty, that God wald stir up mae Bothwells nor ane
(that was, mae enemies to him nor Bothwell), if he revengit not his,
and faucht not God’s quarrels and battles on the papists, before he
faucht or revenged his awn particular.’--_Bir._
[Sidenote: 1594.